When configuring an IP address in NetworkManager, which format is used to specify the subnet mask?

When configuring an IP address in NetworkManager, the correct format to specify the subnet mask is indeed slash notation. This format is typically represented as a number following the IP address that indicates the number of bits used for the subnet mask. For example, an IP address like 192.168.1.10/24 signifies that the first 24 bits of the address are used for the network part, allowing for a network mask of 255.255.255.0.

Slash notation is concise and widely used in modern networking contexts, particularly in environments involving CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing). Its advantage lies in its simplicity and ease of use when defining subnets, making it the preferred method in various network configuration tools, including NetworkManager.

Other formats such as dot-decimal notation, while useful for specifying traditional subnet masks, do not align with the simplicity and clarity offered by slash notation in more current configurations. Methods like hexadecimal and binary notation are largely impractical for subnetting in standard administrative tasks, as they complicate the understanding and representation of IP addressing schemes. Therefore, slash notation is the standard format for defining subnet masks in NetworkManager configurations.